How life has changed in Bury

Bury's population increased by about 4,500 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 190,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Bury increased by 2.5%, from almost 181,000 to 185,000.

The addition of almost 4,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Bury was home to, on average, 13 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Bury

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Bury increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than the North West and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 4,000 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 5,000.

About 15.0% of people in Bury are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Bury by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Bury

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Bury, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 8.9 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 19.8% of respondents in Bury said they had no religion, up from 10.9% in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.3% to 21.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 66.7% of respondents in Bury said they were Christian, down from 79.0% in 2001. About 6.5% said they were Muslim, up from 4.0% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Bury increased by 8.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North West and Bury by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Bury

The percentage of Bury residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.0%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.4% in 2001. The percentage of Bury residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.3% to 6.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 88.9%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Bury at a faster rate than in Stockport (one of the most statistically similar areas to Bury based on ONS area classifications).

In Bury, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.7% in 2001 to 13.8% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Stockport increased from 6.5% to 11.4%.

Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15.4%.

The rate of social housing in Bury fell from 15.9% to 15.0%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75.2% to 69.6%.

Private renting in Bury increased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Bury, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of adults in Bury that were married decreased from 52.1% to 47.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in three (32.9%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 28.3% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Bury that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11.2% to 12.4%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 49.8% in 2001 to 45.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 50.6% to 46.6%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Bury residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.9% to 5.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (80.4%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67.8% in 2001. The percentage of Bury residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.3% to 13.7%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Bury decreased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Bury, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Bury

In 2011, 7.2% of Bury residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 4.4% in 2001. The 2.9 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 3.8% to 6.2%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 89.2% of people in Bury said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 93.9% in 2001. About 1.8% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 1.1% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.5% to 1.0%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Bury increased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Bury by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of one-person households increased in Bury at a faster rate than across England.

In Bury, the proportion of one-person households increased from 28.9% in 2001 to 31.1% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 30.2% to 30.3%.

Across the North West, the share of one-person households increased from 30.9% to 32.2%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Bury increased from 8.7% to 10.2%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 38.9% to 34.2%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Bury residents that were unemployed increased from 2.8% to 4.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (54.3%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 54.9% in 2001. The percentage of Bury residents that were self-employed increased from 8.1% to 9.1%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Bury increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Bury, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employed people in Bury working less than 16 hours increased from 1.5% to 2.5% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 12 (8.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 11.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.7% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Bury increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Bury, the North West and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Bury residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.2% to 2.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.2%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 2.4% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Bury remained close to 2.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Bury by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Bury with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 10.5% to 10.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30.5%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 32.3% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Bury without children increased from 57.2% to 59.0%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 10.4%). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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